The accident took place when a truck hit the stationary pilgrim-laden bus from behind at a traffic square. All are safe now, informed Tourism Minister Ashok Panda.

All the pilgrims are from Rayagada district of Odisha and are on a pilgrimage under State government’s Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana. They had boarded a special train arranged by the State government from Berhampur on January 4.